It sounds like a pretty shocking question to ask doesn’t it? When people think of herpes, they usually think of a nasty sexually transmitted disease that is transmitted between sexually promiscuous people. Although herpes can sometimes be transmitted through sexual intercourse, what most people don’t realize is that over half the population also have herpes simplex type I, more commonly known as oral herpes. You want to know something else? Most of those people contracted it as children from harmless playing and harmless kissing.

The herpes simplex viruses are transmitted by skin to skin contact. What this means is that you do not have to have sexual intercourse or be physically intimate with a person to get it. If you are a parent with oral herpes and you give your children good-bye kisses before they go to school, or good-night kisses before they go to bed, then it is possible for you give them oral herpes.

I know you probably want to freak out, but it is a commonly spread virus between children. Even if you do not have herpes type I, if a classmate of your child has it, and they share a drink, give playful hugs, put pencils in their mouths and then share them – it can also be spread that way. Because the virus is so easily spread, many doctors consider it “harmless”. It is in fact harmless to the extent that it is not fatal. However the cold sores or outbreaks themselves can be painful and very unsightly. If your child does happen to catch oral herpes, make sure they understand that they should not share cups, they should avoid touching their mouths and then rubbing their eyes and practice good hygiene in general.

There are two primary forms of the herpes simplex virus, herpes type I and herpes type II. Herpes simplex type I occurs primarily in and around the mouth and is more commonly referred to as oral herpes or cold sores. Herpes simplex type II, or genital herpes – occurs primarily below the waist line. Although it is called genital herpes, it is not restricted to just the genital area, but literally anywhere below the waist. This can include your lower back, pelvis, inner thighs and buttocks.

When a person realizes that the blister that they have on their lip that they once thought was a harmless sign of the changing seasons is actually herpes type I, one of the first questions they is whether or not they can pass it on genitally to their partner.

The very short answer to this question is, yes – you absolutely can pass on oral herpes to the genital area. Herpes simplex virus is transmitted by skin to skin contact through the mucous membranes. If you have an oral herpes outbreak and perform oral sex on your partner you can pass your herpes to them. When this happens, they will have genital herpes. Just like herpes type II, herpes type I outbreaks can be difficult to identify. Sometimes they look really bad like puss-filled blisters then there are other times when they look like simple pimples. Just as with genital HSV, if you think you are having an outbreak on your mouth, it is best to refrain from any sexual contact – including kissing.

Much like genital herpes, oral herpes is contracted through skin to skin contact through the mucous membrane tissue. A person need not have any visible symptoms present to pass the herpes virus along to someone else.

Herpes Simplex is a very tricky virus because it will often lie dormant or have long periods of latency where there are little to no visible symptoms. A healthy immune system, diet and emotional stability will lead to less severe and infrequent outbreaks. It is important to eat well, avoid sugars, caffeine and stress.
While symptoms of oral herpes most commonly appear on or around the lips, oral herpes is not always limited to this area. For some, symptoms may appear between the upper lip, on or inside the nose, or on the chin or cheek. In these instances, herpes is referred to as oral-facial herpes.

Oral HSV-1 is especially common, with many people acquiring it during early childhood or adolescence. You have most likely seen someone experiencing an oral herpes outbreak before.

A primary infection with oral herpes can be similar to a first episode of genital herpes in that pronounced symptoms occur. During the first episode, classic lesions tend to form as small fluid-filled blisters that can appear as a single blister or in a cluster. Sores may also appear inside the mouth or on the back of the throat, and the lymph nodes in the neck may swell.

Much like genital herpes, however, symptoms of oral herpes can be very mild and go unnoticed. Subtle symptoms can be easily mistaken for another infection or condition such as a small crack or cut in the skin, chapped lips, bug bite, or a pimple, to name a few examples.

At least a quarter of people with oral herpes experience recurrences. Again, as with the first episode, symptoms vary from person to person. Lesions may appear as either a blister or a cluster of blisters or sores. It is possible that a recurrence will involve only the subtle symptoms described above.
The treatments available for oral herpes are the same drugs used for genital herpes including Valtrex and Acyclovir. There are also natural treatments for oral herpes outbreaks.

Our Recommendations for Natural Outbreak Treatments:

• Natural Herpes Outbreak Treatment

• Take Control of your Herpes

• Treat Outbreaks Naturally